How the Most Stylish Man in Soul Preps for the Met Gala

We hung out with Leon Bridges as he suited up (in Tom Ford) for the fashion party of the year.

Leon Bridges is getting ready for a party in a suite at the Ludlow Hotel. He’s wearing a vintage silky golden shirt tucked into high-waisted, wide-leg Lane 45 denim, finished with black-and-white classic Bass Weejun loafers. In between sips from the tiniest bottle of minibar whiskey, he’s moonwalking in place, getting his nails buffed (and painted with clear polish!), and receiving a red carpet–worthy wash of completely unnoticeable makeup. But he’s not nervous because this is his second Met Gala, and he knows a few people there this time, and people will definitely know him this time.

“It’s a little overwhelming for me, because I’m a very introverted person,” says the second coming of Sam Cooke of the legendary annual fashion event. “It’s just one of those things where you just kind of pray, love, and take it on.” Last time (in 2015), he took it on in Sandro, but this time? Tom Ford. Classic, beautiful, tailored Tom Ford. He paired the tux with glossy patent slippers and onyx studs and cufflinks. (“I think the studs and cufflinks alone are worth $3K,” says Bridges’ stylist, Mac Huelster.) His hair is in its signature retro side part, and he looks ready to go. He hasn’t gone Commes crazy like some people (ahem, Helen Lasichanh)—he’s keeping it classic. “I was aware that there was going to be some kind of theme,” he says. “But I like to be low-key. Maybe next year I’ll take it up a little bit, but I like to find balance. I don't want to be too crazy.”

GQ Style got ready with Bridges and asked him a few pre-party questions to get him in the mood. See his process below.

GQ Style: I have to say, that red carpet looks daunting from afar, what's it like in real life?Leon Bridges: It’s, uh, it’s kind of a crazy thing! Not something that you really get to do every day it’ll be breezy. Taking photos and smiling... It is pretty funny, people taking photos and yelling at you.

What's your game plan once you're off the carpet?
Get some drinks and go from there.

[Ed note: This is where I suggest Bridges slip a couple extra minibar bottles into his pocket, a suggestion that he takes.]

How did you choose Tom Ford?
Well, this guy is super key [gestures to Huelster]. I don't know where to look, so he hooks me up. But also, Tom Ford and I have done a couple of things together. We've been building that relationship. I'm playing one of his events up here, and I'm playing an event in Milan.

I usually wear vintage, but you can’t really rock vintage stuff at this kind of event because there’s always a hole here and there.

So Tom Ford feels like the best alternative?
Yeah, I don't really like the tapered-leg kind of thing, really fitted. He just has the right look for me.

Did Tom Ford send you a bunch of suits? Or how does this happen?
It was kind of a one-and-done thing. I went to the store in Dallas, and basically they had one tux, and I put it on and it looked good. I felt good. I like it because it’s traditional and I don’t want to be too flashy.

Do you remember who you sat with last time?
[Thinks for a while] No! But I was going to hit up Miguel and see if he was going again. Last time, when I was leaving, he was like, Hey, get in this photo, and I turned around and it was John Legend, Miguel, Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union, and I was like, Whoa, okay. It was cool. My album wasn’t even out...it was nice of them to have me get in that photo.

Okay, but this year you're sitting at a Vogue table. Who do you hope will be your seat mate?
Jay Z! [laughs] Or, I guess A$AP Rocky?

What are you bringing with you? Anything? Lipstick?
Haha! Yes! Lipstick. Nah, just money, phone, and my handkerchief I bring everywhere.

Any last words before you go? Feeling ready?
Yeah, it's an honor, really. I have a lot of friends who do the fashion thing, but I didn't know about this event growing up and now I'm going. But yeah, I'm looking forward to the after-parties...I mean, those are parties.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (effective 1/4/2014) and Privacy Policy (effective 1/4/2014). GQ may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with prior written permission of Condé Nast.